Chioma Umeha

BY CHIOMA UMEHA Lagos – When women and girls have access to contraception, fewer babies and mothers die. Around the world, millions of women can’t get the contraception they want. Numerous studies show that the ability to plan pregnancy is directly and unequivocally linked to lower maternal mortality, lower infant and under-five mortality, lower mother-to-child transmission of HIV, and a whole host of improved health indicators. Here is just one example: when a woman spaces her births by at least three years, her newborn baby is twice as likely to reach its first birthday. However, negative reports on sexual reproductive health (SRH) outcomes in the country show that there is a need to improve access to family planning information and services for Nigerian adolescents. The 2014 World Health Organisation’s (WHO) report and 2013 Nigeria by our Reporter Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS) presented the worrisome statistics of Nigerian young women whose lives are c

BY CHIOMA UMEHA, Lagos – The birth of a newborn brings joy to a mother and serves to be her reward for going through the pains of nine months of pregnancy. The reverse is the case at the death of a newborn. Not only would a mother be in grief, the community and family would also be in anguish. This used to be the picture in some communities in Oyo a year ago until the state government, community leaders, UNICEF and other partners through the Accelerated Action for Impact (AAI) Initiative stepped in to ensure that no child dies from preventable reasons. Previously, statistics has it that in Nigeria, Oyo State is among the 15 states contributing to nearly 50 per cent newborn deaths in Nigeria. Sadly too, the state was the third highest contributor to the newborn mortality rate in absolute numbers in the South West. According to the Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey, (MICS) 2016/2017, Oyo shows undesirable 42 per cent of newborn mortality rate. However, the AAI Initiati

BY CHIOMA UMEHA, Awareness and proper understanding of family planning has been recognised to reduce maternal death among young women of reproductive age between 15 and 49. Data on Sexual Reproductive Health outcomes in Nigeria stresses the importance of focusing on adolescents. At 576 maternal death per 1,000 live births, Nigeria accounts for 14 percent of the global burden of maternal mortality (NDHS 2013/WHO 2014). Global evidence shows that young girls bear a higher burden of maternal mortality and morbidity. Data shows that the average age at sexual debut is roughly 15 years of age among adolescent mothers in Nigeria. (NDHS 2003, 2008, 2013). The National adolescent fertility rate in Nigeria is 122 births per 1,000 women aged 15 to 19 years. In the North Western States, it is as high as 171 births per 1,000 women aged 15 to 19 years. To stem this, the government of Lagos State with support from partners and other donor agencies has put in place youth-friendly he

BY CHIOMA UMEHA Lagos – A birth registration programme implemented by the National Population Commission (NPopC), with support from UNICEF, has increased the number of children between the ages of zero and 17 years registered in Nigeria by about 29 million. According to the evaluation report launched today, for children under one year of age, the programme increased by more than 100 per cent the number of children registered -   from 3 million in 2012 to 11 million in 2016. “Low rates of birth registration are a challenge in Nigeria,” said Mohamed Fall, UNICEF Representative in Nigeria. “In 2011, the birth registration rate was 41 percent, which means that three in every five children were not registered. This lack of birth registration negatively affects a child’s ability to access his or her right to health care, education and many other rights.” It was in this context that the programme was initiated to accelerate birth registration rates – particularly for children u

Lagos – With Nigeria contributing 20 million to the global 300 million people affected by fungal infections, scientists have urged the Federal Government to establish    Mycology Laboratories in the country. Making the call were researchers from the fields of Mycology, Parasitology, Haematology, Microbiology, others, who stressed that it would forestall fungal epidemic. They said, it is unacceptable for a country like Nigeria, the most populous African country not to have Mycology Laboratories. The practitioners made this and other submissions at the Cancer Research Centre, of the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research (NIMR) at the first Annual International Conference of the Medical Mycology Society of Nigeria (MMSN). Commenting, Dr. Rita Oladele, a microbiologist at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), the situation in Nigeria is really appalling, where there is no single reference laboratory for fungal infections, saying it is not a good one for the country and

It is of paramount importance for one to visit doctors at least twice a year for a proper checkup. As the saying goes; “Prevention is better than cure.” In line with this old axiom, experts are increasingly advocating preventive healthcare to confirm that ‘a stitch in time saves nine.’ Dr. Jide Idris, Lagos State Commissioner for Health, has restated government’s commitment to promoting preventive health care in the state. According to Wikipedia, preventive healthcare consists of measures taken for disease prevention, as opposed to disease treatment. Just as health comprises a variety of physical and mental states, so do disease and disability, which are affected by environmental factors, genetic predisposition, disease agents, and lifestyle choices. Idris stressed on preventive healthcare during a sensitisation walk and symposium, part of activities to mark World Health Day in Lagos on Monday. The event was organised by the state Ministry of Health in conjunction wit

A normal menstrual cycle is usually 28 days plus or minus seven days, meaning that anything from 21 days to 35 days is normal. So those who complain that they get theirs twice a month could see how this is possible, especially if you fall into the 21-day cycle. Subtle variations are acceptable, like 21 days here this month, 25 days there next month, etc. but wide swings from days to 35 days will seem abnormal. Even then, unless this happens at least three times consecutively, it should not be concerning. This is because a woman’s menstrual cycle is subject to stress hormones so things like sadness as in death, joy as in travelling abroad, purchasing a car, etc. can trigger events that can lead to heavy flow, scanty flow or even cessation. As such, any alteration unless life-threatening is not significant until it happens through three menstrual cycles in a row. The typical thing is for the Nigerian female to start worrying about the little aberration and even having sleepless night